Bikepacking shakedown over-nighter

[lnarachi]

Hey now
I got a few bags for an old (almost 30 years) hardtail 26-incher DiamondBack Axis bike and decided that I needed to see what works and what doesn't with my camping set up.

I live near Big Basin Redwoods State Park near Santa Cruz, CA. and loaded up the bike - Ranger frame bag, Terrapin Seat bag, Sweet roll, handlebar harness, feed bag and gas tank.
I didn't have an inflatable sleeping pad, so I strapped on an old Z-rest foldable to the sweet roll (HUGE) with the trusty Voile straps
I also clamped on "Everything Bags" on the forks from Cleaveland Mountaineering (these are GREAT) and put my sleeping bag and a water bladder in those bags.

I rode to the park - about 20 miles and climbed about 1200 ft. - went to the park HQ to get a bike/hike spot and was told it was closed for a couple more weeks.

Didn't let that stop me - I rode up and out of the park and stealth/wild camped up on a knoll out of sight from the road..
After changing out of my biking kit I put on dry clothing and set up camp and started my dinner.
I cooked a hot meal of pasta and split pea soup on an Evernew stove (alcohol stove). The stove and the Vargo BOT pot/bottle worked great . After the meal, I enjoyed the quiet evening light and then settled in to the tent to do some reading on the kindle.

The next morning, I woke up and boiled some water to make fresh coffee with the Aero Press coffee maker...that makes some decent coffee I must say.

My old tent worked well...the sleeping bag kept me warm even though the air was cold and damp...(about 38 degrees) I was using a Mountain Hardware Phantom 32 bag. The pad is too bulky and not warm enough...I also needed a pillow...

What worked - the bags (Revelate designs/Cleaveland Mountaineering) - the bike - the sleeping bag, the stove, the BOT, the AeroPress coffee maker
What didn't work - the pad (too bulky) the tent (too heavy - a Sierra Designs Orion) - no dry spot to sit (used the pad)

I have a Big Agnes UL2 tent and a Exped Synlight pad (with the Schnozzel pump bag) a thermarest square inflatable camp seat and a sea-to-summit inflatable pillow coming to round out the camp kit.

I can't wait to go on a 2-3 nighter soon....(wait until the weather stops POURING RAIN)
Here is the photo album : http://imgur.com/a/hnqfp

[Hayduke]

Sounds like a good time to me :- )

When I started bikepacking my gear wasn't terribly piggy by 1990's weight standard's haha, but is was bulky and bulk sucks on a bike. I adjusted my sleep system first and went with a Primaloft Snugpak Softie Elite 1, 2.2 lbs. and packs down to volleyball size for $75. I got really lucky and found Neoair xlite new for $25 at a store that sells returns he buys at auction. The Snugpak is warm for me to 32° if I wear my underlayers and socks.

Those two changes made life much easier packing, hard to quantify the effect a couple pounds made on legs and lungs :- )

Long live stealth camping, stealth camping and S24O's go together like peanut butter and jelly. Around here we refer to them as 'off-season' camping, because it's so much more pleasant in the 'developed' area's :- )

[Meadeam]

Very Cool.  I'll be doing something similar very soon on a bike as old as OPs.  I'm still getting my kit together.  Rather than buy a bunch of new stuff, I am going with what I have, and only buying where necessary.  I have a Banjo Brothers pannier that I used for commuting, and will be complimenting it with one of their frame packs.   My sleeping bag and bug bivy/tarp will go on top of the rack in yet to be decided upon bag, with self-inflating ground pad under the bars.  I may need a bit more stowage, but I'm getting close.

You have a pretty nice setup for getting started I'd say.